Page 16 of Love Lies Bleeding

Brian glares at me and I smirk, holding his stare until he drops his gaze and rushes from the room.

“Mr. Marshall, see me after class.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Now open your books. Today we’re learning the nuances of a plea bargain.”

People groan as they take their seats and get to work. The lesson is boring and I’m lost in thought as I half listen and take notes. I might rule this school but I also work hard because I want to be the best at what I do. I want to prove to Mr. McKenzie that I’m worth his time and belief in me.

As Professor Ackerman wraps up, chairs begin to scrape and he has to raise his voice over the noise as students begin to pack up. I smell the sickly sweet scent of her perfume before I can avoid her.

“Hey, Jakey.”

“I don’t have time for this, Lorelei.” I’d planned to talk to her but all I want to do now is talk to Cherry and tell her what happened before it spreads around school. Knowing Cherry, she’ll be pissed that I did what I did. She won’t appreciate me standing up for her, or laying claim to her, but I’ll never be okay with someone bad-mouthing her and she needs to learn that about me. I’d rather it was me who told her though.

“How about you come over later and we can talk?” Her fingernails dance over my shoulder as I clench my teeth to stop the shiver of disgust from rolling over my body. She’ll more than likely take it as desire.

I turn, letting my gaze rake over her, and Lorelei preens, lifting her shoulders and shoving her tits in my face. “Lorelei, I need you to hear me.” My voice is low, sweet even as I lean in and she follows. “I will never be yours. I don’t want to fuck you or speak to you or even look at you and if I hear that you’re bad-mouthing Cherry again, I’m going to ruin you. Do you get me?”

It’s like it takes a moment to register my words as her smile falls and her lips pinch in anger. Her expression loses the sweet doe-eyed look and the hardness beneath is revealed. Lorelei likes to come across as cute and sweet but she’s rotten to her core, the fake sugar she laces her act with having poisoned every little thing.

“Whatever, Jake. You’re making a huge mistake but if you want me to play nice with your little pet, I will for now. I have bigger fish to fry, anyway. Hunter will be back soon and I can move on from the likes of you.” She gives a little sniff and tosses her head in the air as she prances off on her four-inch stilettos.

I’d wish her luck in going after Hunter but she doesn’t need luck, she needs a goddamn miracle.

“Mr. Marshall, have you finished?”

I spot Professor Ackerman waiting for me at the podium where he stands for his lectures, his expression bored.

“Yes, sir.”

I move toward him, ready to take my punishment. I might lord it over the students because that’s how it works here but I have respect for most of my teachers.

“Marshall, I understand that you have a position here you wish to maintain but in future, keep your issues out of my classroom. You’re an exceptional student, with the potential to go to the very top of any profession you choose, but I will not tolerate you disrupting my class. Do you understand?”

“Yes. It won’t happen again.”

“Good.”

He lifts his chin to the door, dismissing me and I rush out, wanting to get to Cherry and not just so I can get my side of the story over first but because the air in my lungs feels easier when I’m around her.

6. Cherry

“Hi, Mom.”

“Cherry Pie, oh, I’ve missed you. How are you? Are you eating properly?”

I smile to myself as I sink back against the pillows on my bed. “I’m good, Mom. I miss you too. How’s the salon?”

Closing my eyes, I let the sound of my mother’s voice, as she brings me up to date on everything happening at the salon she owns, drift over me like a warm hug. There’s nothing like the sound of her voice to settle me.

Ever since Jake rushed over here last week to tell me what happened with the student from his class, I’ve felt rattled, uneasy, unable to think about anything else. It’s not because of what he did, I’m not some pacifist, unwilling to throw a punch, it’s that he did it for me. No, it’s not that either, it’s how much I liked that he’d done it.

I’m not that girl, I’ve never been the girl, happy or accepting of someone claiming me like property, but with Jake, it feels different. He isn’t trying to own me so he can control me, it makes me feel protected and cherished and that scares the crap out of me because I don’t trust it.

“Hey, Blossom, I need to talk to you.”

“I have to get to my shift. Can it wait?”

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